Winners March 2012
Eimear Kelly
Ciaran MacLoughlin
Malachy Nee

Winners February 2012
Derry Shaw
John M Kane
Vincent Keogh

Winners January 2012
Brendan Flynn
James Roynane
Aidan & Marie O’Halloran

Winners December 2011
Geoff Tucker
Matt O’Sullivan
Tom King

Winners November 2011
Matt O’Sullivan
Ronnie Millar
Feargal Wood

Winners October 2011
Malachy Nee
Derek McNamara
Joe & Mary O’Connell

Winners September 2011
Mick Byrne
Pearse Hyland
Pat & Cathriona O’Toole

Support Connemara RFC by purchasing a ticket for the World Cup Grand Prize Draw. This draw was set up by the  IRFU to help clubs raise some much needed funds. Tickets €10 each and there are some fantastic prizes on offer. 100% of ticket sales go to Connemara RFC.

Tickets available locally from:

Off The Square Restaurant, Clifden - Rory O’Toole 0872203178

Irene King Staunton 0879017406

Matt O’Sullivan 0872300898

And from all Connemara RFC committee members.

Tickets available from Connemara RFC!

Pre-seaon training is in full swing at Connemara RFC with Seniors being put through their paces by head coach Peter Bracken. Very eager U17′s & U15′s squads have also  have also taken to the training field – Under 17′s on Monday evenings from 6 – 7pm sharp under the leadership of  John O’Halloran & Under 15′s train on Thursday evinings from 6-7.30pm under Nigel Murray, assisted by Ryan Murtagh and David McDonagh. It is especially heartening to see these underage quads in action at pre-season training in an effort to be fighting fit, fast & ready for the season ahead.  We welcome new players at all levels in Connemara RFC and we are very proud of the achievements of our underage teams over the years.

“I am very impressed at the level of committment at training so far, and also very happy with the level of fitness. Great to see the lads taking responsibility for their team and setting goals for the season ahead.” (John O’Halloran – Coach U17′s)

“I’m looking for dedication from players to attend training. It’s up to the players to come along and build up a successful squad for the season ahead” (Nigel Murray – Coach U15′s)

Connemara RFC will host a Family Fun Fest & Registration Day on Sunday, 21st August from 12-4pm where all underage players, past and future may register with the club for the 2011-12 season. There will be lots of fun activities for everyone at The Monastery Field on the day and we welcome families from far and wide to attend!

Family Fun Fest & Registration Day

Sunday August 21st, from 12pm – 4pm, will see Connemara RFC host the first of many  Family Fun Festivals. There will be lots of fun games and activities for all age groups along with BBQ, refreshments, cake sale and Connemara RFC merchandise at special offer prices. There will be no admission fee on the gate.
All underage players are expected to register for the 2011-12 season on the day so that all teams will be ready to take to the field for training in September. All players who register on the day will recieve a free gift. Registration forms are available for download HERE  and will be available on the day.
The Family Fun Fest promises to be a fun-filled afternoon for all the family, young and old, so the whole of Connemara are invited to take part in a great day out.
Events will include Lots of Wacky Races, The Kick Fada, Sponge Throwing, Welly Throwing, The Horse-Shoe Toss, Wife Carrying, Bouncy Castle, Sumo Suits, Face Painting, Tombola, Cake Sale, The Duck Splat and numerous other fun events.

For further details or enquiries please contact Irene – 0879017406.

Connemara RFC are happy to announce the appointment of Peter bracken as Head Coach of Connemara RFC for the coming season. Peter is a native of Tullamore, Co. Offaly with whom he learned to play rugby until he was 17. He then played one year of schools rugby with St.Andrews college in Dublin. He represented Ireland at Irish youths and Ireland school level during this time and was the first player to play with both those sides. He won a triple crown with the Ireland schools and went on an unbeaten tour to Australia with that schools side. Peter played AIL rugby with Bohemians (old Div3) and Galwegians and won numerous senior Connacht league and Connacht senior cup titles with Galwegians along with playing in an AIL Div 1 semi final with Galwegians.

Peter represented Munster six times during his time with Bohemians. He was part of the extended Munster panel in 2000 when Munster reached their first Heineken Cup final againt Northampton. He went on to represent Connacht for 4 years playing in 2 Amlin Cup (Parker Pen Cup as it was known then) semi finals. He then moved to London Wasps where he had two very sucessfull seasons wining an Anglo-Welsh Cup in 2006 and winning the Heineken Cup in 2007. Peter also represented the world 15 side and the Barbarians ( v’s England) during his time at Wasps. Since Wasps he has played for Bristol, Harlequins and French side Carcassonne.

Peter has 7 Ireland A caps and he has also toured New Zealand, Austrailia and Argentina with the Ireland senior team. He was part of the extended 37 man squad before the last world cup in 2007.

“I’m delighted to be appointed head coach of the Connemara All Blacks for this coming season. I’ve just finished playing professional rugby after an enjoyable season with Carcassonne in France. By the way it’s a lovely place for any Connacht fans to visit if they are heading to the Toulouse game in October.
 
I’ve done a lot of coaching during my years as a professional player and have worked with many of the academy sides at the clubs that I’ve played with. I’ve also worked with various amature club sides, mainly in England. I’ve set up a consultant scrum coaching business called The Scrumdoctor which I’ll be pursuing outside with my role within the club but neadless to say Connemara All Blacks is my main priority this year. This is my first job as a head coach so it’s a new and exciting challenge for me. I’m confident in my ability as a coach and I aim to bring a greter element of professionalism that maybe might have been a bit lacking in the club previously. I appreciate the faith the club administrators have show in appointing me and I guarantee I will do everything in my power to help bring about a successful season for the club.
 
Success will not come without the effort and commitment of the players and the support of the Connemara people. I urge our supporters to come out and watch our games. We will be playing an enjoyable, expansive, running game. We need numbers at training to get our preparation correct. I’ve been encouraged with the skill level and commitment of the guys who have been training so far. I thank those lads for that but we will not win anything if the numbers don’t start to increase soon. Those guys not training need to get on board soon if they want to play.
 
We’re going to have a right crack at teams this year, so don’t miss out.”

Connemara 7’s Tournament – 1,2,3 July 2011
The Inaugural Connemara 7’s took place at The Monastery Field, Clifden on 1st, 2nd & 3rd July last and it is safe to say that all participants and spectators enjoyed a fantastic weekend of fun and fast paced rugby, along with nose blistering Connemara sunshine.  The positive comments and feedback from clubs, players & spectators is testament to a well organised, enjoyable and 100% successful tournament.
With Clifden being so many miles from everywhere we knew it would be a mammoth task to convince clubs and teams to attend for a weekend, but we also knew that if we provided everyone with a fun, inexpensive weekend in beautiful scenic Connemara, that it would indeed be a massive success.
The festival started on Friday evening with the official opening by John Carr, President Connacht Branch. This was followed by a meet and greet for all teams with BBQ & Bar and fun and games in the festival marquee. A free local courtesy bus was provided by Michael Nee, Connemara Coaches for all participants and supporters over the entire weekend and we must thank Michael and his drivers for showing such hospitality and kindness to everyone who availed of the service from various pick-up and drop-off points.
Games kicked off on the Saturday morning at 10am, with 12 men’s and 4 women’s teams competing. The rugby continued through to 8pm that evening, followed by the “Ruck ‘n’ Scrum” in the festival marquee.  A fantastic party atmosphere continued for the night.
Sunday morning saw the final pool games recommence at 11am followed by the men’s and women’s finals. Congratulations to all who helped organise, volunteered, participated, played, attended and supported the Connemara 7’s. The support and help we received from the Connacht Branch, The Association of Referee’s – Connacht Branch, and the IRFU was second to none and without a doubt was a major factor in making the tournament a brilliant success.

Men’s Cup Winners – Shamrock Warriors,  Runners up – Connemara Boys
Men’s Plate Winners – Lazy Leprechauns, Runners up – Tuam RFC
Men’s Bowl Winners – DCU Force 7,  Runners up – Darren Murphy’s Rugby Wake
Men’s Shield Winner – Inbetweeners,  Runners up – Connacht Dragons
Women’s Cup Winners – Shamrock Warriors, Runners up – The Allsorts
Women’s Plate Winners – Galwegians, Women Runners up – Tuam Nada Balls
There were also prizes for Top Try Scorers and Best Try and Most Colourful Kit

The Connemara 7’s will take place on the first weekend of July annually – next tournament on 6th, 7th, 8th July 2012 where we aim to increase participation and include some extra prizes and festival events!  The Connemara RFC 7’s Tournament is in aid of Connemara RFC Club Development.

Irene & James Staunton – Connemara 7’s Organisers

Huge congratulations to our Football Committee Chairman Mark Foyle on his recent engagement to local lass Regina Pryce. Well done to you both and best wishes from all in Connemara RFC.

Connemara R.F.C had two visiting teams this weekend past – Sundays Well in the All Ireland League on Saturday and Carrick R.F.C in the Connacht Junior Cup on Sunday.

Sundays Well 22   Connemara 7

This was a great game in damp conditions and was mostly controlled by a very solid local fifteen.  In fact we were leading with fifteen minutes to go when after a series of defensive scrums a long cross kick by the visitors yielded what was probably a deserved try.

Connemara earlier had a great try as a result of a darting dash from Alan Keogh.  Sean Joyce converted from under the posts.  Well’s got an undeserved try before full time.  All our players did well – the three Keoghs – David at full back, Alan and Kevin when he came on in the second half brought a great balance in the pack.
Darren Little is getting better with each game as are our front row of Ferrons, Robinson & Pryce.  Also Martin O’Malley and Martin Coyne, Darragh Sweeney, Cormac McDonnell and James Mannion did well as did James O’Connell, Jack Vaughan, David McDonagh etc in the backs.
The visiting team had fewer supporters than Seapoint last week but made themselves heard.  Well failed to get the bonus point which they surely expected to get.

Connacht Junior Cup

Connemara 52   Carrick R.F.C 0

Twenty three talented young players and a few evergreens togged out for this first round cup game at the Monastery Field on Sunday and did the club proud.  Sadly there were not too many there to witness a fine display of attacking and running rugby.
Among the evergreens were Tomas King and Kevin Ward.  Kevin Keogh also made a cameo appearance.  Almost from the kick off Peter O’Toole scored a great try in the corner.  This was followed by two tries from his full back brother Michael O’Toole.  Eoin Bourke also got two good tries and Paddy Madden got one, and made one for scrumhalf Oisin Conneely.  Peter O’Toole also got a second try.  Shane Sweeney at outhalf kicked six good conversions. 

It is good to see a good group of home grown talent develop into a fine team. Now is the time to enjoy their growth into fine future prospects.  A number of them could easily graduate onto our A team. 

Matt O’Sullivan – PRO